Moisture managing brassiere

Abstract

A moisture management brassiere which includes a brassiere body, including a body and back strap. The body and back strap are formed of a stretch fabric having a moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns which define a first fabric face for residing in skin contact and for wicking moisture away from the skin. A moisture dispersal fabric layer is provided, and is constructed of hydrophilic yarns and defines a second fabric face for residing in spaced-apart relation from the skin during garment wear. The moisture dispersal fabric layer receives moisture from the hydrophobic moisture transport layer. Stretch yarns provide stretch to the back strap. A pair of breast enclosing and supporting cups are attached to the back strap of the brassiere. Each of the cups is constructed of a moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns which define a first fabric face for residing in skin contact during garment wear and for wicking moisture away from the skin. A moisture dispersal fabric layer constructed of hydrophilic yarns and defining a second fabric face is provided for residing in spaced-apart relation from the skin during garment wear and for receiving moisture from the hydrophobic moisture transport layer. A liquid impermeable, vapor permeable fabric defining the outermost fabric face resides adjacent to the second hydrophilic moisture dispersal fabric layer.

We claim: 
     
       1. A moisture management reusable and launderable brassiere, comprising: (a) a brassiere body, including a thorax-encircling back strap for holding the brassiere in position on the wearer, comprising: (1) a stretch fabric having a moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns which define a first fabric face for residing in skin contact during garment wear and for wicking moisture away from the skin;   (2) a moisture dispersal fabric layer constructed of hydrophilic yarns and defining a second fabric face for residing in spaced-apart relation from the skin during garment wear and for receiving moisture from the hydrophobic moisture transport layer; and   (3) stretch yarns in the back strap for providing stretch to the back strap;     (b) a pair of breast enclosing and supporting cups attached to the back strap of the brassiere and comprising: (1) a moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns which define a first fabric face for residing in skin contact during garment wear and for wicking moisture away from the skin;   (2) a moisture dispersal fabric layer constructed of hydrophilic yarns and defining a second fabric face for residing in spaced-apart relation from the skin during garment wear and for receiving moisture from the hydrophilic moisture transport layer; and   (3) a liquid impermeable, vapor permeable fabric outermost fabric face residing adjacent to the second hydrophilic moisture dispersal fabric layer;     (c) a pair of shoulder straps attached by one end to respective cups and by respective opposite ends to the back-strap to provide further support to the breasts.   
     
     
       2. A brassiere according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic yarn of the moisture transport layer of the back strap and the cups is chosen from the fiber group consisting of polyester and polypropylene. 
     
     
       3. A brassiere according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic yarn of the moisture dispersal fabric layer is chosen from the fiber group consisting of hydrophilic nylon, cotton, rayon and blends of hydrophilic nylon and conventional nylon. 
     
     
       4. A brassiere according to claim 3, wherein the yarn of the liquid impermeable, vapor permeable fabric layer is chosen from the fiber group consisting of polyester and nylon microfiber. 
     
     
       5. A brassiere according to claim 4, wherein the yarn of the moisture management stretch fabric of the body of the brassiere connecting the cups to the back strap of the brassiere is chosen from the group consisting of blends of nylon/spandex, polyester/spandex and cotton/spandex. 
     
     
       6. A brassiere according to claim 1, the moisture transport fabric layer of the brassiere cups is constructed of hydrophobic polyester yarns formed of fibers having a high surface area in relation to volume. 
     
     
       7. A brassiere according to claim 1, wherein the moisture transport fabric layer of the brassiere cups is constructed of an integrated knit fabric having hydrophobic polyester fibers on the first fabric face next to the skin of the wearer and hydrophilic nylon on the second, obverse fabric face. 
     
     
       8. A brassiere according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, and including means for detaching a part of the cup from the body of the brassiere for exposing a breast for nursing. 
     
     
       9. A moisture management reusable and launderable brassiere, comprising: (a) a brassiere body, including a thorax-encircling back strap for holding the brassiere in position on the wearer, comprising: (1) a stretch fabric having a moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns which define a first fabric face for residing in skin contact during garment wear and for wicking moisture away from the skin, wherein the hydrophobic yarn of the moisture transport layer is chosen from the fiber group consisting of polyester and polypropylene;   (2) a moisture dispersal fabric layer constructed of hydrophilic yarns and defining a second fabric face for residing in spaced-apart relation from the skin during garment wear and for receiving moisture from the hydrophobic moisture transport layer, wherein the hydrophilic yarn of the moisture dispersal fabric layer is chosen from the fiber group consisting of hydrophilic nylon, cotton, rayon and blends of hydrophilic nylon and conventional nylon; and   (3) stretch yarns in the back strap for providing stretch to the back strap;     (b) a pair of breast enclosing and supporting cups attached to the back strap of the brassiere and comprising: (1) a moisture transport fabric layer constructed of hydrophobic yarns which define a first fabric face for residing in skin contact during garment wear and for wicking moisture away from the skin, wherein the hydrophobic yarn of the moisture transport layer is chosen from the fiber group consisting of polyester and polypropylene;   (2) a moisture dispersal fabric layer constructed of hydrophilic yarns and defining a second fabric face for residing in spaced-apart relation from the skin during garment wear and for receiving moisture from the hydrophobic moisture transport layer, wherein the hydrophilic yarn of the moisture dispersal fabric layer is chosen from the fiber group consisting of hydrophilic nylon, cotton, rayon and blends of hydrophilic nylon and conventional nylon; and   (3) a liquid impermeable, vapor permeable fabric comprising an outermost fabric face residing adjacent to the second hydrophilic moisture dispersal fabric layer; and     (c) a pair of shoulder straps attached by one end to respective cups and by respective opposite ends to the back-strap to provide further support to the breasts, said shoulder straps comprising a stretch fabric.